Kobe Bryant takes credit for the work ethics of the NBA’s younger players

Kobe Bryant is one of the greatest players to ever touch a basketball. When you look at all he has accomplished in his 16-year career, that really isn’t debatable. A player like Kobe doesn’t get to where he is by coasting along. It takes countless hours of hard work and determination. The younger generation of NBA players is lucky to have had someone like Bryant to look up to. Just ask the Lakers star himself.

“Just by observation of some of the younger players that I face now, they wind up having a similar mentality that I had,” Bryant said recently when asked how he has changed the sport, via ESPNLosAngeles.com. “Because growing up, they were obviously watching me when I was 21, 22 years old and just kind of by any means necessary get things done, not afraid of the big moment and extremely competitive. They all have these work ethics now and most of them get up at five in the morning to train like I do. It’s pretty cool.”

You know what else you need to become one of the best players in NBA history? Arrogance. Kobe has never lacked cockiness, which has ultimately given him the edge he needs to win five NBA championships. Notable writers have called him an a-hole, and that is exactly how Kobe wants people to feel about him.

As far as taking credit for the work ethic of the younger generation of NBA players, that’s just Kobe being Kobe. And when you’re right, you’re right.